Six Foot Canasian - New Year. New Adventures!

by
The Six Foot Canasian

As I get older, and more candles magically appear on my birthday cake, I am amazed how quickly a year flies by.

One year.

12 months.

52 weeks.

365 days.

8,760 hours.

525,600 minutes.

31,536,000 seconds.

Although I typically dislike reminiscing … this year is the exception to the rule! Exactly one year ago, a single Facebook post led me on a journey that would change the course of my life (as I knew it).

Now … before I get ahead of myself let me give you a bit of history.

Prior to finding my way back to Calgary I had the fortune of living in some of the world’s greatest cities. Although I had a permanent mailing address in each one, I essentially lived out of a suitcase – a nomad, a gypsy – with no roots to any one place or community. That all changed when I noticed friends mention the “East Village” in random conversations. Although I had only known it as the “sketchy” part of town a decade ago it was now where people were going to sample “mobile” cuisines from amazing food trucks, checking out the music of local up and coming bands, experiencing the Opera beside the Bow River, and supporting local artisans at Market Collective. Then, while wasting some time on Facebook, a friend shared a post about the East Village Resident Ambassador contest and joked about entering so they could get out of their current house and win a full year’s rent in a trendy new area of the city.

A few days later I had a wicked craving for Village Ice Cream and thought it would be “neat” to wander around the East Village construction sites and check out the RiverWalk along the Bow River. With my Salted Caramel ice cream in hand (and nothing else to distract me) I found myself getting romantic about the “potential” of the East Village. At the time the area was still a collection of construction sites on the verge of completion. But … around every corner I saw glimpses of the things I loved most about each of the cities I had lived. I could see myself living in the two buildings nearing completion … the coveted prize for the first East Village Resident Ambassador. I couldn’t stop thinking about it and knew I had to look further into how to make this a reality. That night this website (www.sixfootcanasian.com) was born!

The People

Of all the experiences I've had this past year, the most rewarding aspect has been getting to know the incredible people of Calgary! Although this site started out as my entry into the East Village Ambassador contest it has organically turned into a a place for me to tell the stories of others. Through the interview process I get to uncover a side of a successful business ... the "secret sauce" that makes it exceptional, unique and (ultimately) is the reason it stands out in a sea of competition. Below is a list of the stories specifically highlighting the people "behind" the business we've all gotten to know:

The Places

When I lived in Calgary from 2006 to 2008, I really didn't make an effort to get to truly KNOW the city. Granted, the city (back then) was not the YYC we are proud to call home today! My return has also been my license to explore the city with fresh eyes and a new appreciation. Below is a list of stories showcasing special places and destination locations right here in our city:

The Events

One of the great things about Calgary is that it is REALLY good at bringing people together! Every weekend you can find an organized event where people celebrate being Calgarian, connecting with others, and sharing in unique experiences. Check out a few of the stories below I covered this past year:

The Journey Ahead ...

As I look back I (honestly) can't believe it's resulted in 47 articles and over one thousand images shared (with more articles planned and lots of images I haven't yet posted)! More importantly, I've cultivated meaningful relationships with so many great people that I know will continue to grow and flourish!

In the upcoming year you can expect even MORE information about people, places, and events in Calgary that will intrigue, inspire, and motivate you to get to know your YYC even better!

Finally, I want to say a huge "THANK YOU!" to everyone that has made this Six Foot Canasian year possible. You know who you are and how much I love you all!

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1 Comments

Bethe GoldiePosted:17 June 2016

Andrea, you are amazing!!!! I love reading what you write but, even more, I love learning from your experiences and wonderful attitude about life and its challenges!! You deal with them in such a positive way and give all of us a lesson of wisdom and strength. Huge hugs, Awesome Andrea!!!